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RE: [RC] [RC] Horse buying woes - Tracey LomaxI'm a bad, bad, bad horseowner. I own four, only paid for one, and he's the only one who came with a full vetting, including x-rays. One came to me having had a knee chip operation and he's got the cleanest, soundest legs in the world (of course, he has, he's a total shit. If he were a NICE horse, he'd be lame). He's sixteen. Horse number two arrived with a bowed tendon. He's now eventing Pre-Novice, and jumping 1.0 m to 1.10 meters at home with scope to burn. He will event open in a few years. Sound as a bell. Horse number three came with existing knee chips. If they give him hassles I'll remove, if not, he'll be buried with them. He'll also event open, whether or not he'll do it with the chips or after they're removed remains to be seen. The one we paid for has been unsound most of his life. Nothing chronic, it's always something different. Suffice it to say I could wrap him in cotton wool and put him in a padded cell and he'd come out with an injury. I don't call him Zoolander for nothing! They're horses : you can be as careful as you want, there ARE no guarantees. A friend bought an A grade with a clean bill of health and it broke its leg in a paddock the following week. One of our local A grade riders said it best : First time I sit on a horse, I must want to kiss it. Second time, I must fall in love with it. Third time, I must want to make love with it. If that doesn't happen, it must go, because we'll never be a partnership. So IMNSHO, the only question worth answering here is : are you in love with this horse? If the answer's yes, then no vetting in the world is going to stop you keeping him (trust me, I know, I have two "you must put him down's" standing in my stables, doing bloody well jumping thank you very much). If you aren't in love with him, then sell him to somebody who is. Regards, Tracey =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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